Enter輸出代理店What trade challenges can institutions solve?

Professional import and export agencies primarily undertake the following core functions:

• End-to-End Process Management: From preparing declaration documents to HS code classification, handling customs inspections and tax calculations
• Logistics Solution Optimization: Design sea/air/rail multimodal transport solutions tailored to cargo characteristics, coordinating domestic and international transport connections.
• Trade Compliance Consulting: Interpret policy requirements such as the technical standards of the target country (e.g., EU CE marking) and rules of origin.
• Foreign Exchange Risk Management: Design a foreign-exchange receipt and payment plan that incorporates the two-way volatility characteristics of the RMB exchange rate in 2025

What is the difference between a foreign trade company conducting its own import and export operations versus acting as a commissioned agent?

From the perspective of actual operational costs:

• labor cost: Self-operation requires forming a dedicated team of 3–5 professionals, with an average annual cost of approximately 400,000–600,000 RMB.
• trial-and-error cost: First-time New Enterprise通関The error rate can reach 35%, which may trigger a customs audit.
• Cost of capital: Agencies can provide supply-chain financing services, extending payment terms by 20–45 days.
• time-sensitive cost: Professional agents clear customs an average of 2.3 working days faster than self-operated channels (2025 customs data)

How can you assess the professional qualifications of an agency?

It is recommended to conduct verification from three dimensions:

• Regulatory Qualifications：
  • Customs AEO Advanced Certified Enterprise (new digital certification requirements added in 2025)
  • FIATA Membership
• Industry Case Studies: Provide operational records for goods of the same category (ensure confidentiality).
• Risk control system: Check whether a trade compliance review system and an emergency response plan are in place

What items are included in the fee structure for import and export agency services?

Agent service fees in 2025 typically include:

• Basic service fee: Charged at 0.6%–1.2% of cargo value (tiered rates for bulk cargo are negotiable)
• Special Operations Fee：
  • Dangerous Goods Declaration Surcharge: USD 120–200 per shipment
  • ATA Carnet processing fee: RMB 800–1,500
• Capital service fee: Forward exchange settlement and hedging services typically charge a fee of 0.3%-0.8%.

What common pitfalls should you avoid when choosing an agency?

Based on the 2025 international trade dispute case analysis:

• Low-price trap: Agencies quoting more than 30% below the industry average may be involved in smuggling risks.
• Qualification Trap: Beware of PS-forged AEO certification certificates (can be verified on the General Administration of Customs website)
• Responsibility Trap: The contract must clearly specify the party responsible for late-payment penalties arising from incorrect declarations.
• Service Trap: Provide proof of the designated contact person's professional qualifications (e.g., customs broker card number).

What new changes are emerging in the import and export agency industry in 2025?

Focus on three key policy trends:

• Digital customs declaration：中國稅関は全面的に「スマート審査＋ランダム検査」という新モデルを導入
• Addressing Carbon Tariffs: The EU CBAM mechanism requires that agencies possess carbon footprint accounting capabilities
• Regional Trade Agreement: The RCEP rules of origin accumulation impose higher requirements on the document management of agency organizations

What is the fundamental difference between an import-export agent and a freight forwarder?

Analyzing the differences from a legal-risk perspective:

• Scope of Liability: The freight forwarder is only responsible for the transportation process, while the import/export agent must bear responsibility for the accuracy of the declaration.
• Service Content: Import and export agency services include foreign exchange verification and cancellation輸出稅還付and other fund management services
• Legal status: Under the export agency model, the agency acts as the operating entity and bears primary responsibility

What special services are required for the import and export of special commodities?

Take medical device exports to the EU as an example:

• Authentication Service: Clinical evaluation documentation is required under the MDR regulation
• Cold chain management: A complete temperature-controlled record and validation report must be provided.
• UDI Traceability: The authorized representative shall assist in completing the Unique Device Identification (UDI) declaration.
• Early-warning service: Timely notification to the EU Medical Device Vigilance System (with the new AI monitoring module added in 2025)

How to evaluate an agency's emergency response capability?

It is recommended to request the following case evidence:

• Customs Audit Response: Successful cases in the past two years of assisting clients in obtaining Class A Enterprise Certification
• Trade Friction Response: Experience in handling anti-dumping investigation questionnaires
• Emergency Response: Alternative Transportation Solutions for Handling Port Lockdowns During the Pandemic
• System disaster recovery capability: Whether it has an electronic filing system with multi-site backups

What will be the development trends of the import and export agency industry over the next three years?

Based on the 2025 Industry Development White Paper forecast:

• Service Integration：Over 65% of agencies will integrate customs, tax, and financial services
• Technological Intelligence: The error rate of the AI customs declaration system will drop below 0.7%.
• Talent specialization：Certified Trade Compliance Officers will become the standard configuration for agency organizations
• Regional differentiation: Professional agency service providers targeting the ASEAN and African markets will grow by 120%